Erectile Dysfunction - Causes and Symptoms

Erectile dysfunction causes, symptoms and treatment

Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is the most common sexual health condition in men. ED can affect men of all ages, with causes ranging from anxiety and stress to surgery or lifestyle choices. In fact, more than 1 in 10 men will struggle with it at some point in their lives. It's not a condition just found in older men. Many young men experience problems because of pressure, anxiety and stress.

The outlook for men with impotence is extremely positive and it is not usually a long term problem. With effective treatments such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, or effective counselling or therapy, your condition should not prevent you from enjoying a happy, healthy sex life.

Trying to define impotence

Simply put, it is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection for the completion of satisfactory sexual intercourse. This could mean that when you're aroused, you are unable to get an erection, or it could mean that you can't maintain your erection before or after penetration. If this happens several times in a short period, you should seek some form of treatment.

What's going wrong?

Getting an erection is a complicated bodily process, which is why it's so easy to disrupt and for impotence to occur. In your penis there are twin chambers called the corpus cavernosa. When you're aroused, more blood rushes to your penis. The walls of these chambers then expand, allowing this blood to flow in. As the chambers fill, your penis becomes erect.

Problems are often caused by 2 natural bodily elements, called cGMP and PDE-5. cGMP is a nucleotide that tells the walls in your corpus cavernosa to relax and accommodate the increased blood flow. PDE-5 is the enzyme that naturally breaks cGMP down. But if too much of one is produced, or not enough of the other, the erection process can be disrupted and an impotence treatment may be required.

What are the causes of impotence?

Impotence can be caused by physical or psychological issues. Discovering the cause will be paramount to seeking an effective treatment. Psychological reasons tend to be less prolonged, while physical problems tend to be the root of more serious health concerns. But thanks to impotence pills and other modern treatments, the problem is easily manageable.

One easy way to determine if the problem is physical is to check whether you are still getting an erection in the morning. If you are, then the problem is unlikely to be physical. The same is true if you can get an erection while masturbating.

Finding impotence treatment

Don't stay silent; discuss the problem with your partner and a doctor. If you feel self-conscious about seeing your own doctor, you can take a consultation online or we can arrange for you to see a specialist privately.

If the problem is psychological, it's possible that they will recommend therapy or counselling. If your problem is suspected to be physical, they will be able to perform an examination to determine the cause. They may also recommend changes in your lifestyle, if they think that is the root cause leading to erection problems.

Prescription treatment

Oral impotence pills have become the preferred treatment for millions of sufferers. They're suitable for both long term and short term treatment, and carry few side effects. They work by inhibiting the PDE-5 enzyme to allow more blood to flow into your penis.

- Viagra: Over 20 million men have enjoyed a better sex life thanks to Viagra. The first ever medication of its kind, it should be taken 30 minutes before sex and lasts for up to 4 hours.

- Cialis: Cialis remains active for 36 hours after you take it, allowing for greater sexual spontaneity. It get to work within 30 minutes. Cialis is also available in a low dose for daily use.

- Levitra: Levitra is better suited to older men and those suffering from underlying conditions, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. It can work within 20 minutes and last 5 hours.